2011 NCAA Basketball Preseason Power Rankings

The intensity. The sweat. The practice. It is time for fans to celebrate the return of college basketball.  The University Of Connecticut went on an unprecedented run to win the national championship last season. While, they will certainly be a strong team again, there are several teams hungry to knock them off of the mountain top and excited about their chance to prove they are the best team in college basketball. Here are the top 10 teams by NCAA basketball power rankings entering the season.

1. North Carolina Tar Heels
Roy Williams has the most talented team in the country on paper and is determined to have his squad motivated to play each game. The team will be led by superstar Harrison Barnes and Tyler Zeller. They should play suffocating defense and should amaze fans with the ease that they put points on the board each game.[sws_divider_line]

2. Kentucky Wildcats
John Calipari knows how to recruit and this season could be the year that all his hard work finally pays dividends. The team will be a little cocky, but with good reason as they are lead by the dynamic combination of Doron Lamb and Terrence Jones. The athleticism and length on this team will allow them to cause matchup issues for any team on their schedule.[sws_divider_line]

3. Ohio State Buckeyes
Thad Matta is an intelligent coach, who preaches efficiency on offense and intensity on defense. The team will play inside-out basketball largely running the offense through big man Jared Sullinger with sharp shooters Aaron Craft and Shannon Scott ready to make big shots. With great chemistry and strong defense, the team is sure to be a force throughout the season.[sws_divider_line]

4. Connecticut Huskies
Jim Calhoun was shocked to walk away from last season as the national champion, but he would love the shock the nation again by finding a way to repeat. Andre Drummond and Jeremy Lamb will lead the team by playing the game with lot of enthusiasm, which is important because everyone wants to knock off last year’s champ. The blueprint for the team is simple stick together, play good defense, be unselfish on offense, and the wins should pile up very fast.[sws_divider_line]

5. Syracuse Orangemen
Jim Boeheim was not satisfied with the way the team ended last season, but with a new season comes plenty of excitement and opportunity. The team is experienced and will go as far as Scoop Jardine and Fab Melo take them. Expect a focused team that plays smart defense and is patient on offense. The team is confident and prepared to play good ball each game.[sws_divider_line]

6. Duke Blue Devils
Coach K is ready to become the king of college basketball as he will become the all time Division 1 leader in wins this season. The team appears to have good balance, chemistry, and passion for the game. It never hurts to have talent and this team is in good hands with Austin Rivers and the Plumlee brothers, Mason and Miles. The team will play with a little chip on its shoulder as championships are the only thing that matter for the program.[sws_divider_line]

7. Vanderbilt Commodores
Kevin Stallings is one of the most competitive coaches in the country and expects this team to play up to its potential. The team is experienced and will have no problem putting the ball in the bucket each game. John Jenkins and Jeffrey Taylor give the team a great inside-out combination. The only question is can this team commit itself to getting defensive stops this season? If so, there will plenty of partying in Nashville this season as this team is sure to rack up plenty of wins.[sws_divider_line]

8. Florida Gators
Billy Donovan is hoping to see his team improve and mature this season. The program has the look of an outside national championship contender. Kenny Boynton has questionable shot selection at times, but with Bradley Beal and Erving Walker to help him shoulder some of the scoring responsibility, this team is sure to cause opponents plenty of problems on defense. The team should play better defense this season and is capable of beating any team in the country, when firing on all cylinders.[sws_divider_line]

9. Memphis Tigers
Josh Pastner is the most underrated coach in the country and this team will play at a frenetic pace on offense and defense. Tarik Black and Adonis Thomas will confidently lead the team out onto the floor each game. The team is talented and scrappy, which will help them effectively handle the pressure of being a team that enters the season with such lofty expectations.[sws_divider_line]

10. Louisville Cardinals
Rick Pitino did not like some of the comments Charles Barkley made about the Big East and is on mission to have this team ready to exceed expectations. Leadership will not be a problem as they have one of the best point guards in the nation with Peyton Siva running the show. Newcomer Wayne Blackshear will certainly make his presence felt as well. The team will be intense, high flying, and provide a great show each night. With a little luck and determination, the team is prepared to do some great things this season.

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